So I have been doing a mini comparison tonight. A couple of weeks ago Twinnster asked me how the Neco V3 sounds with the DX50. So I brought it along with me on vacation. Here is the setup. I am only listening to Grado RS1i headphones. Only cans I brought with me on vacation. Used Porcupine Tree's Hatesong off of Lightbulb Sun album because it has awesome bass line. 16/44 FLAC. Line out is set at 250 for all amps. Headphone Out is set at Medium gain and 220. Of course this is my opinion, ymmv, imo, all that good stuff...

1. DX50>RSA Intruder>Balanced RS1i. Sounds full and awesome with depth of soundstage and width, low bass, clear highs. This is my normal setup. And it sounds good. But I didn't realize how good...

2. DX50>RSA Intruder>Single Ended (SE) RS1i. I noticed an immediate contraction of the soundstage width and depth when going single ended. It is more immediate and in your face. Everything still sounds wonderful, but just closer.

1&2 discussion) I would say that with the Balanced setup, the sound stage seemed to be just beyond the reach of my out-stretched arms, but with the single ended, it is collapsed to my palms or wrists. Still broad and fully semi-circular, just more collapsed. And realize that this is with the Grado RS1i, and Grado's have an immediacy and in-your-face sound like studio monitors.

So at this point I decided to try the DX50 by itself.

3. DX50 Headphone Out Medium gain>SE RS1i. This is where I can really tell what the RSA Intruder brings to the table. With the DX50 HPO setup, the soundstage is just outside of my head. Maybe six inches out at the most. With all of the setups, everything is clear and sounds pretty good, but the RSA provides deeper bass than just the HPO, and the RSA has that fantastic soundstage.

4. DX50>Headstage Arrow 2.2G>SE RS1i. This amp surprised me a little bit tonight. It sounded pretty good. Much better than I expected. The bass did have good impact. (Settings for Arrow pretty flat. No bass boost. No crossfade. Gain II (med). Impedence O.) To me the soundstage was better than the HPO of the DX50, but not extremely large. As I listened back and forth to Arrow and then HPO, I got bored. That is how I would describe it. It wasn't exciting. It sounded ok. But not exciting. For soundstage I would probably call this slightly more extended than HPO, but by no means deep. But it is an improvement over headphone out.

5. DX50>Neco V3>SE RS1i. Another surprise for tonight. Much better than anticipated. I could definitely hear the power of the 18v from the Neco v3. I would put this one right in the middle of the pack for tonight. Good deep bass. Good soundstage. (Middle of the fore-arm deep). The reason that I say that it surprised me is because with my ipod and line out into the Neco, the soundstage is extremely linear. It definitely has left and right, but not much depth to it. With the DX50, the depth seems to be there. So we will chalk that one up to an epic fail for the iPod. ; -) So the Neco 3 was extremely clear and just "more". When I went back to HPO, the Dx50 sounded similar, but the Neco just gave it MORE. Like a caged lion waiting to burst free. (with a little more bass than the HPO)

For rating, I was thinking how to rate it. So we will do a That Metal Show Top 5 type of thing. 5 to 1. With no further ado, here is Howlin' Fester's Top 5 Dx50 Vacation Amp shoot out...

So I have been doing a mini comparison tonight. A couple of weeks ago Twinnster asked me how the Neco V3 sounds with the DX50. So I brought it along with me on vacation. Here is the setup. I am only listening to Grado RS1i headphones. Only cans I brought with me on vacation. Used Porcupine Tree's Hatesong off of Lightbulb Sun album because it has awesome bass line. 16/44 FLAC. Line out is set at 250 for all amps. Headphone Out is set at Medium gain and 220. Of course this is my opinion, ymmv, imo, all that good stuff...

1. DX50>RSA Intruder>Balanced RS1i. Sounds full and awesome with depth of soundstage and width, low bass, clear highs. This is my normal setup. And it sounds good. But I didn't realize how good...

2. DX50>RSA Intruder>Single Ended (SE) RS1i. I noticed an immediate contraction of the soundstage width and depth when going single ended. It is more immediate and in your face. Everything still sounds wonderful, but just closer.

1&2 discussion) I would say that with the Balanced setup, the sound stage seemed to be just beyond the reach of my out-stretched arms, but with the single ended, it is collapsed to my palms or wrists. Still broad and fully semi-circular, just more collapsed. And realize that this is with the Grado RS1i, and Grado's have an immediacy and in-your-face sound like studio monitors.

So at this point I decided to try the DX50 by itself.

3. DX50 Headphone Out Medium gain>SE RS1i. This is where I can really tell what the RSA Intruder brings to the table. With the DX50 HPO setup, the soundstage is just outside of my head. Maybe six inches out at the most. With all of the setups, everything is clear and sounds pretty good, but the RSA provides deeper bass than just the HPO, and the RSA has that fantastic soundstage.

4. DX50>Headstage Arrow 2.2G>SE RS1i. This amp surprised me a little bit tonight. It sounded pretty good. Much better than I expected. The bass did have good impact. (Settings for Arrow pretty flat. No bass boost. No crossfade. Gain II (med). Impedence O.) To me the soundstage was better than the HPO of the DX50, but not extremely large. As I listened back and forth to Arrow and then HPO, I got bored. That is how I would describe it. It wasn't exciting. It sounded ok. But not exciting. For soundstage I would probably call this slightly more extended than HPO, but by no means deep. But it is an improvement over headphone out.

5. DX50>Neco V3>SE RS1i. Another surprise for tonight. Much better than anticipated. I could definitely hear the power of the 18v from the Neco v3. I would put this one right in the middle of the pack for tonight. Good deep bass. Good soundstage. (Middle of the fore-arm deep). The reason that I say that it surprised me is because with my ipod and line out into the Neco, the soundstage is extremely linear. It definitely has left and right, but not much depth to it. With the DX50, the depth seems to be there. So we will chalk that one up to an epic fail for the iPod. ; -) So the Neco 3 was extremely clear and just "more". When I went back to HPO, the Dx50 sounded similar, but the Neco just gave it MORE. Like a caged lion waiting to burst free. (with a little more bass than the HPO)

For rating, I was thinking how to rate it. So we will do a That Metal Show Top 5 type of thing. 5 to 1. With no further ado, here is Howlin' Fester's Top 5 Dx50 Vacation Amp shoot out...

It's more a thread on the Quickstep VS the Pico Power + sidekicks like the C&C BH2, Heir Rendition 1 and Tralucent T1...I will be the first with a completely different amp (apex glacier) unless I get cold feet again

EDIT: Pun not intended

I just got my dx50 yesterday and so far only HO usage - which is crazy good. But today I`m heading out with my ALO Continental strapped on.... I will have tube feedback in a few hours !

Originally Posted by musicheaven
Thanks Howlin Fester for your review you proved my point about the balanced ability of the RSA Intruder and also the great synergy between the DX50 and the Intruder.

No problem. Although I don't know if I have read anyone actually disputing the balanced ability of the RSA Intruder. LOL. I think the major dispute is with the price. All I know is that I have been listening to it for five and a half hours while the family is out at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. I love me some alone time with the DX50, the Intruder balanced, and Genesis, U2, Steely Dan, Live, John Hiatt, and JJ Grey & Mofro!

No problem. Although I don't know if I have read anyone actually disputing the balanced ability of the RSA Intruder. LOL. I think the major dispute is with the price. All I know is that I have been listening to it for five and a half hours while the family is out at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. I love me some alone time with the DX50, the Intruder balanced, and Genesis, U2, Steely Dan, Live, John Hiatt, and JJ Grey & Mofro!

It was more to myself yeah the price has been a major criticism and if you never listen to Ray's products you can be a huge doubter. But the moment you fire the intruder then the thought just melts away. It's an amp you find difficult to get rid of, it just sounds too good.

It was more to myself yeah the price has been a major criticism and if you never listen to Ray's products you can be a huge doubter. But the moment you fire the intruder then the thought just melts away. It's an amp you find difficult to get rid of, it just sounds too good.

Does DX50 sound a lot better if you bypass its internal DAC & amp with RSA Intruder?